InEmergency Health Services Commission v. Cassidy, 2011 BCSC 100, the BC Supreme Court ruled that there was no free-standing procedural obligation on an employer to treat an employee “fairly, and with due respect for his dignity" during the duty to accommodate process, the failure of which could ground an award of damages.

The BC Human Rights Tribunal had previously ruled in this case that while accommodating the employee's physical disability would have represented an undue hardship to the employer, the employer was still liable for damages to the employee for failing to treat him fairly and with due respect for his dignity during the duty to accommodate process.

The damages awarded by the Tribunal included an award of $22,500 for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect.

In the decision (WCAT-2008-03840), which was delivered on December 19, 2008, WCAT found that the Emergency and Health Services Commission (the "Employer") had engaged in discriminatory action under s. 151 of the BC Workers Compensation Act, against one of its employees, Michael Wheatley.

Community Living British Columbia and the BC Government Services Employee Union have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective agreement. Voting on the tentative agreement will take place on May 31, 2010.

Community Living BC is a Crown agency with about 375 unionized employees delivering support and services to over 12,500 adults with developmental disabilities and their families throughout British Columbia,

No further details of the agreement were released. The Province's news release can be read here.